Ax



Aug. 3, 19443. F. c. GREENE AXE Filed oct. 25; 1940 FIG INVENTOR FRED C. GREENE BY ATTORNEY .a Fig."1;

"Patented Aug. 3, 1943 Fig. 39 is across-sectionview taken "on line Sei-9 e" This invention rela'tesl 4gerrerali'yl l toA axes and particularly to safetyaxes of the type which comprises movable parts adapted toshielQd-'the cutting .edge when the ax-isnot tobeused.`

The t invention is particularly small hand axes or hatchets of the type intended `to be carried by hunters or surveyors or other` persons having `occasion `to use alight instrument applicable .f

'for cutting `Small pieces of wood, suchas `iirewood or stakes or twigs4 or otherfthings of similar character. This type of axis usually carried in someform of holster or is strapped tothe person in such a mannerthatit is desirable or` evenA necessary that the. cutting edge be shielded :to prevent accidental injury to the user. `Such 'axes should be of such a form that their construction is simple and practical, whereby they may be gfolded or otherwise adjusted to a condition in which they may be used and also to a` condition' 4in which the edgeis shielded for purposes of safety. At the same time their construction must besuch thatthey do not causeinjury by colg 2, the` surfaces 9 and .I0 of the shield and the ax j 'head respectively having been brought into juxlapsing during use or wear out because of com-a4 plicated or flimsy construction." a

Accordingly,` the principal object of `thisinl vention is to'provide a novel safety ax` of simple and sturdy construction. i

. `A further object of the invention is to provide a light ax, the bitof which may be shielded during periods of non-use. Y

`Still another object of this invention is to provide a safety ax comprising a minimum number of parts and involving a minimum costlof manufacture.

l Further objects and tion will `be apparent from consideration. of the following speeiication4 and accompanying-draw-v ing, wherein: i i Figl is an velevation oi the ax in partially operated condition showing certainfparts in section; Fig. 2 is an elevation with `parts broken awayv v"to show cross sections ofthe ax in its `open posim tion;` l

advantages of the finven- Y Asafetyax constructed in accordance withjthe invention as illustrated in Fig.. l comprises an enclosing handle'portion` I-, an ax head shield 2 integral with handle I, av haft 4 andan ax head integral with the haft and comprising a butt portion 3 together with av cutting edge 6.

The haft 4 is swivelled to handle AI by means of `V a ball and socket joint comprising a socket IA which is integral with handle I and ball 8in- `t'egrali with haft 4. .Handle I is provided with grip 'which may be rubber or any other suitable material.

Fig.` 2, and Fig. 8.and Fig. 9'illustrate the ax after it` has been adjusted for use as a cutting tool. The haft 4 has been moved from the positionshown in` Fig. l in such a manner that it is enclosed in slot II of the `handle I and the butt 3 of the ax head 5` is enclosed bythe shield taposition whereby'the component` parts of the instrument are in rm relation Vto oneanother.

The handle I and thehaftV 4 are maintained in the Aoperating position by meansof the pin IB as illustrated in Fig. 2 and Fig.`8. A latch I2,

. lpivotally fastened by rivet I3, is slotted to iitin i i Fig. 3 is afragrnentary View partly section of the ax in its closed or shielded condition;

4 is an end View of the shieldshown in Fig. `5 is an end view of the ax `headshovm in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an end AView of the ax illustrated in Fig. 2;` and Fig. '1 is an end view eftheaX illustrated in y Fig..3`. l l Fig. 8 is a crossfsection view taken on line lil-8 of Fig. 2.

a notch at the end of pin I8 in such a manner that a press or spring fit is obtained whereby the pin cannot slip from the position shown.

After the ax has been used and it is desired to adjust it to the safety condition, pin i8 is removed and thehead is removed from the shieldto the position illustrated in Fig. 1 and rotated 1h80V until the cutting edge B faces the opening at the Abottom of shield 2 whereupon the Vhead may `be` inserted within the shield vto the position illus.`

tratedinFigsL and'7.` The pin I8 is then reinserted and fastenedin posit-ion by latch I2 whereby the cutting edge `I5 is shielded by shield?` and a all danger ofinjury is removed.v a

From the above'description it; is

instrument are neatly fitted togetherrin such a manner that the device maybe used in any desired. manner either as a cutting instrument or as a hammer without danger of collapse and conl sequent personal injury. It is further evident g that the shield is fullyk operative to prevent personal injury `during periods ofnon-use` and the instrument is still `compact and neat inappearl ance.

Furtherfmodications ofthe invention will be evident to those skilled in the art and'conse-V a evident" that during periods of use all component parts of the4 quentlyvit is 'mydesire that the invention shall belimited only by the appended claims and as required by the prior art.

I claim:

1. An ax comprising a head with a cutting edge,

Y' a haft attached to the head, a casing for said head having an opening, a slotted handle attached to the casing, a portionof said handle having acontour suitable tov render it usable as a grip, a socket; at one end of said handle and Ya ballat one end of said haft iitted within said socket whereby the ax head may be rotated and inserted Vin the openingrin said casing in a shielded position or a cutting position and means for securing the hait within the handle.

2. An ax comprising a head with a cutting edge, `a haft attached tothe head, a slottedcasing for said head and hait, a portion of said casing havling la contour suitable to' render itv usable as a handle and a socket at one end of said casing and a ball at one end of said haft tted within said socket whereby the ax head may be rotated and inserted within the casing lin a shielded positionor a cutting position.- v

3. An ax comprisingV a head withA a cutting as a handle and a swivel connection between the lhaft and casing whereby the ax head may be inserted land withdrawn from the casing and rotated from a shieldedV positionY to a cutting position. Y

5. An ax comprising a head with a cutting edge, a haft attached to the head, a casing having an opening for admitting said head and a slotted handle attached to the casing and a swivel connection between the handle and haft whereby the head and haft may be rotated and inserted within the casing and handle respectivelyV in a shielded position or a cutting position.

. FRED C. GREENE. 

